As most of us know, "The Last of Us" was released on June 14th and came in three separate editions here in the US.

The Standard Edition

The Survival Edition

The Post-Pandemic Edition

I have unboxed the "Survival Edition" for all of you to see. Check it out!

Which edition of the game did you pick up? Are you currently enjoying the game? Is there anything that you wish you could have changed about the game or is it perfect the way it is? Let me know in the comments below and as always, thanks for contributing to the conversation!

Erik Gerolaga is a content creator for WTF Gamers Only! Check out all the hilarious gaming posts and content that the net has to offer! Also check out the twitter and Instagram! When he's not busy interacting with the gaming community, he enjoys playing the piano and getting lost in the music it makes. Follow @splitmindeddude on Twitter or follow his obsession with games, tech and food on his Instagram, which also happens to be @splitmindeddude. Go figure.

UPDATE (10:30AM PST): After contacting them by telephone, ThinkGeek has confirmed they have sold out of the product and will no longer be receiving any additional supplies! Forbidden Planet is still taking pre-orders and the merchandise has yet to be available on the Gearbox Shop! Check back soon!

If you're a big Borderlands 2 fan, this may be the collectible for you! Announced at PAX East 2013, the Borderlands 2 Swag-Filled Limited Edition Diamond Plate Loot Chest is now released and up for grabs! This item can only be found at ThinkGeek, Forbidden Planet and the Gearbox shop.

According to the ThinkGeek website, the product is described as the following:

In the Diamond Plate Loot Chest, you'll find a Goliath Replica Mask for you, a code for an in-game Goliath head for your characters, Legendary Item cards and the shift codes to obtain the items in-game, a Vault Hunters Wanted Poster featuring Axton, Maya, Zero, and Salvador, and Window Decals for your favorite weapons manufacturers. It also comes with a Certificate of Authenticity that proves that you are the best Borderlands fan ever to live.

IGN's Andrew Goldfarb ran an article in late March of this year explaining this secondary release, mentioning it will be limited to 5,000 copies. Will you be one of those lucky few to pick one up? Did you pick up the extremely limited "Ultimate Loot Chest Edition" on release? Is there something you want specifically from this item? Is there something you wish was in this loot chest? Let me know in the comments below and as always, thank you for contributing to the conversation!

Erik Gerolaga is a content creator for WTF Gamers Only! Check out all the hilarious gaming posts and content that the net has to offer! Also check out the twitter and Instagram! When he's not busy interacting with the gaming community, he enjoys playing the piano and getting lost in the music it makes. Follow @splitmindeddude on Twitter or follow his obsession with games, tech and food on his Instagram, which also happens to be @splitmindeddude. Go figure.

Animator and blogger Kenna W. has hacked the Legend of Zelda and has switched the roles of Link and Zelda, where Zelda goes out and adventures to save the helpless Link. Having a professional video game programmer for a boyfriend, she had sent him the article about the father who hacked Donkey Kong and asked how she could make this possible.

An alternate history?!

Zelda and Link&#Array;s Sprite Switches

Upon further research, she was able to find several tools that would allow her to edit the files in the ROMs and get things going. After a few modifications and even editing the story introduction, they had created a time for Zelda to be in the spotlight as the hero of Hyrule.

Want to know how you can patch your own Zelda ROM to get some Zelda action? Check out Kenna's blog for the details!

Do you know of any other stories like this one? Is there a game you'd like to see hacked and switched? Have you seen crazier or amazing hacks like this one? Let me know in the comments below and as always, thanks for contributing to the conversation!

Erik Gerolaga is a content creator for WTF Gamers Only! Check out all the hilarious gaming posts and content that the net has to offer! Also check out the twitter and Instagram! When he's not busy interacting with the gaming community, he enjoys playing the piano and getting lost in the music it makes. Follow @splitmindeddude on Twitter or follow his obsession with games, tech and food on his Instagram, which also happens to be @splitmindeddude. Go figure.

GameStop is full of angels and demons. That is one of the best ways I can describe working there in the past five years. I have had my best and worst experiences as part of the gaming industry working there as I climbed the ladders, and I can tell you, it's not the dream job some people think it to be. However, the retail giant isn't exactly a demon itself.

GameStop... Power to the Players or Power to the Profits?

Most people would assume such things about GameStop, and that it's inherently an evil corporation. There has even been a time when I've heard it compared to the Umbrella Corporation in the Resident Evil franchise. Hearing that, I laughed and shook my head. Would I compare GameStop to the evils that have been committed by a company that brought the zombie apocalypse to the world in a different reality? No, of course not, but it's an interesting thought to how people see businesses nowadays. GameStop is exactly that. A business. And most people forget about that sometimes. GameStop has several business practices in place, and they are definitely good at what they do, or they wouldn't be such a retail giant when it comes to the marketing of video games and technology alone. I want to break down some of those practices, why they do what they do, how they do it and what results. At that point, you can decide for yourself what light you would personally see the company.

The Used Games Market

Obviously, one of the biggest sales services GameStop provides is the buying and selling of used games. We've all heard it, right? When ever a GameStop employee picks up the phone, their greeting usually goes to the tune of:

Thank you for calling GameStop, where we buy and sell used games and you can get specific trade-in bonuses towards the purchase of pre-owned games or accessories, this is [Insert Store Associate's name here], how may I help you?

Other than the phone greeting being ridiculously long, which I'll save for another time, you will always get the hint that they are trying to get you to bring in your unplayed games, accessories and consoles. It is essential to the business model in order to get maximum profit. By getting you to sell back your games, which usually goes for 25% to 33% of what you paid for the game beforehand, 50% if the game was recently released within the first two weeks, not only do they regain product to put back on their shelves and sell for a higher profit, but they get your continued business in return. It works either way, whether you sell your games to GameStop for store credit or cash, GameStop wins. In-store credit causes you to return to the store and reuse your funds, usually a combination of that in-store credit and extra cash, and pick up more games, pre-orders or even subscriptions to membership. If a customer opts for cash, this is still a way for GameStop to get more product that they can sell to the public for maximum profit that returns directly to the store.

Trade In for 50% More? Good to be true?

On a daily basis, there is a specific pre-owned sales goal that allows managers to know what exactly they have to hit in order to be profitable versus the last year-to-date. If a GameStop associate can convince you to sell or buy used games, they will do so in order to reach that goal. This includes several other practices like trade-in bonuses towards store credit, membership bonuses, and in-store policies. Here's what the typical transaction would look like if you were to attempt to buy a new game at GameStop and how a trained GameStop employee is supposed to work to convince you to pick up the game used.

GameStop Employee: Hello, how can I help you?

Customer: I'd like to purchase Alien's Colonial Marines, new please.

GameStop Employee: Of course, let me get you that game. Would you like to pick up used for a discounted price?

Customer: What's the price difference?

GameStop Employee: For this particular game, you'd be saving about $5-$10 off of the new price, plus you have other benefits as well.

Customer: How so?

GameStop Employee: By picking it up used, you have the chance to try the game out as well. If you don't like it or something is wrong with it, you have seven days to return it for a full refund and after that 30 days to exchange it for an identical copy. If you pick it up new, once you open it, it's yours and you can only exchange it for the identical game within the allotted 30 days. For this particular game, I would suggest doing so because you may not like it, but in case you do enjoy it, you just saved money.

Customer: Okay, let's go with that then.

From there, there could be a whole myriad of things that could happen next, depending on how seasoned the GameStop employee is and how well they can sell their product. For now, focusing on the buying and selling of used games, that's what a majority of our transactions at GameStop usually look like. Does it work? Most of the time it can, depending on the sales points of the employee.

The PowerUp Rewards Membership

This membership has changed names continuously over the last couple of years, but for our purposes now, let's refer to it as GameStop PowerUp Pro Membership. So what does it get you? It gets you:

Yearly Membership

10-20 points on every dollar spent in store

Exclusive News and Offers

More Epic Reward Giveaway entries per purchase or trade

Special Welcome "Buy Two Get One Free" on Pre-owned Games

10% off pre-owned games

10% more when you trade-in games

10% off new strategy guides

One year subscription to the Game Informer (Magazine or Digital)

That membership goes for $14.99 on a yearly basis should you choose to renew the membership, and then there's a free card that gives you the just the in-store points, as well as the exclusive news and offers. Why is this essential to the GameStop business model? It's all in the name, "membership". By getting your membership, GameStop becomes your one-stop shop for your gaming and technology needs. Let's continue the conversation between the GameStop Employee and the customer picking up their used game.

GameStop Employee: Do you have a PowerUp rewards membership with us?

Customer: No, what is that?

GameStop Employee: Well, it's a rewards program that gives you bonuses. Not only does it save you 10% off when you pick up used games and accessories, but it also gives you a bonus 10% when you trade-in the games and accessories you may not be playing anymore. It saves the average member $500 a year and it only costs $14.99. But since you're picking up a used copy of Aliens: Colonial Marines today, it will only cost $4.99 because the used game will automatically be discounted again to membership price. Also, by signing up today, you'll get a "Buy Two Get One Free" coupon on pre-owned games and accessories to use within 48 hours of activating your card.

You see, this was all without even mentioning the fact that you get a subscription to the Game Informer and already it would sound enticing to most customers. Most people could argue that they wouldn't fall for such talk, but this is coming from a guy that's sold to 30%-50% of their customers a day on memberships. It works.

At this point, the transaction could go two ways, should the customer say yes...

Customer: Okay, let's sign up!

GameStop Employee: Okay, I'll take your information, including your e-mail and phone number. If you should forget the card, we can pull your information up either way so that you can continue to use your promotions and discounts. Also, I forgot to mention, you get a year subscription to the Game Informer magazine. Would you like that sent to your house or to your e-mail? If you have sent to your e-mail, you'll have access to past Game Informers as well as exclusive content you can't find in the magazines.

By selling the digital version of the Game Informer, the company gains or saves money, so usually a trained GameStop associate would push to sell the digital version. From there, the selling of the membership is complete. Now, if a customer were to say no, the GameStop employee would usually include something they previously hadn't said about the membership to further entice the customer, but in the case that doesn't work...

Customer: No, thank you, I am not interested at this time.

GameStop Employee: Okay, well, let me sign you up for the free card, that way you'll still get the in-store points for each time you come in and we can add you into the system should you like to pre-order or trade-in games in the future.

When this happens, GameStop still has a chance to get you in the future regarding a pro membership. It can easily turn your next transaction into a second shot at picking up a pro membership because since you're already a member and you're back buying more games and accessories, why not take the next step into becoming a paid member and reaping all the benefits? The second or third time around, it usually happens. With daily goals of usually 10% to 15% of membership subscription expectations, a GameStop employee can have their work cut out for them. It affects their daily performance scores and could be an agent to whether or not they get what little hours are provided to each store to work. I can tell you, most associates want to get as many hours as they can, there aren't much, so you will hear this sales pitch again and again. Suffice to say, this is how the membership system works and it does work. Not only does it get you back into the store, it adds more to the pre-owned sales of that particular store.

Do you get more "bang for your buck" when you join in?

Pre-Ordering Upcoming Games

GameStop Exclusive! Not to be found anywhere else!

GameStop also specializes in the pre-ordering business model, which they still dominate due to an organized system and bonuses. GameStop makes multiple sales on pre-orders by getting customers to pre-order games before release with bonus incentives, game discounts and game exclusivity. An example of game exclusivity was The Walking Dead: Collector's Edition, that was only available at GameStop. It came with a brand new copy of "Telltale's The Walking Dead" game as well as the Walking Dead Compendium One, which included over a thousand pages of the comic book series of "The Walking Dead". For a collector and a big Walking Dead fan, that's golden. So why not go to GameStop to pick that up? With the pre-order goals from 15% to 20% in daily transactions, that's a lot of pre-orders to sell in one day for an associate with the incentive of better and more hours as well as a better performance review at the end of the year. So how would this part of the transaction look?

GameStop Employee: Is there any upcoming games that you're interested in?

Customer: Well, I'm actually thinking of picking "The Last of Us" when it comes out. It looks so good!

GameStop Employee: Hey, if you know that you're picking up the game at release, why not put down a pre-order for it? It's only five dollars down, which goes towards the purchase of the game, and you get several bonuses! You get in-game add-ons such as the "Sights and Sounds" pack and the "Survival" pack, but you also get the reassurance that your game is held for you under your name for pick up on day one. No going to look for it, no worries about not getting your copy, and you can take your time paying for it up until release!

A trained associate will always sell the fact that if you're going to pick up the game on release anyway, why not get more with it for the same price? As much as people hate to admit it from time to time, we all like FREE. And by forming a plan with the customer, it instills a process that most people hate to deviate from unless something happens that completely changes their mind like a horrible game review or really bad customer service. By pre-ordering, you situate an event that money will be coming into the store and a customer rapport that will keep them coming back to you. It is a business, and they have to do all they can to insure that your money is coming back to their store.

Is this incentive enough for you to put money down?

There are always reasons behind what a business does. It is what it is, a business. You have to realize that businesses will do what it takes to get you to come back and spend your funds with them. Does that mean you have to agree with their business practices? No, you speak with your wallet and you can avoid them if you would like. Is GameStop full of the darkest monsters in the industry? I can't tell you, but what I can tell you is that they're good at what they do. Whether or not you agree with their practices and methods can be easily answered with whether or not you step through their doors. Working for GameStop over the years has been an interesting experience and it's given me a good look into what good customer service and good business practices can do to bring a great experience to the associate and the consumer. Does it always work out? No, that's how the retail life goes and not every associate or customer is the best mannered, but it speaks volumes on how every transaction is dealt with and what it brings. Good business brings good business.

Do you think GameStop has its demons or are there angels in their midst? Do you shop at GameStop? Have you had any good or bad experiences with them? What do you think of GameStop as a company and as a service provider? Let me know in the comments below and let's get this conversation going!

Erik Gerolaga is a content creator for WTF Gamers Only! Check out all the hilarious gaming posts and content that the net has to offer! Also check out the twitter and Instagram! When he's not busy interacting with the gaming community, he enjoys playing the piano and getting lost in the music it makes. Follow @splitmindeddude on Twitter or follow his obsession with games, tech and food on his Instagram, which also happens to be @splitmindeddude. Go figure.

In an article released this morning by Luke Karmali, we get the explanation that releasing game demos can hurt overall game sales by up to half. This has got to be another of the most interesting things I've heard and read within the span of a week now come out of the mouths of the gaming corporate.

So let's take a look shall we?

Wait, you mean we spent all this money making a demo and getting it out there, and it cut our sales in half? Yes, that's exactly what happened to you because when you put the demo out, people seen the trailer and say, "That's cool" and they've made a plan, "I've got to try that game". And then when they play the demo, "All right, I've tried that game, that was okay, all right I'm done". But the things [games] with no demo, you've got to buy it if you want to try it.

- Puzzle Clubhouse CEO Jesse Schell

That's interesting, huh? Has the thought ever occurred to you that once we've tried a game, we're pretty much done with that game and have no notion or interest in what the game has to offer when it's fully released? He does bring a point. When we have a taste of a game that we have expectations for and it doesn't meet our expectations we tend to stray away from picking up that game on release day. Why would we want to buy a game that does not suit our interests? Has this happened to several games? Yeah, and I'm sure many of us can name a myriad of games that fit that description.

Does trying before buying help or hurt a game?

Schell states that games with just a trailer released give the consumer an idea of what they would like to do in the game and a plan of action to carry it out. Without a demo, you've got to buy it if you want to try it. Again another interesting point, when there is no opportunity to try a game before release, there are people who will go out and pick up that game because their interests piqued.

What does this ultimately mean? Well here are my thoughts and, as always, I would love for anyone to chime in on this and share their thoughts.

Would releasing no demo help sales of games that have no name to carry them?

I can see how releasing a trailer and no demo would help boost sales overall for games in the market. You create this thought, idea, and interest in a game and without an outlet to try it, the only option would be to try it first hand when the game releases later on. And it's worked in different cases. For example, there was "Halo 4". We saw trailers, we saw images, gameplay, you name it! No demo was ever released and when the game came out it sold millions worldwide. But here's the issue, does this work in the case of games that have no legacy to carry them? If a game was being made by an unknown studio with no previous games released, would you so readily pick up that game without having at least a try at it?

Does demos help keep developers and publishers accountable of making quality games?

This can be an arguable point for many reasons. All developers and publishers will tell the public that they will release quality games and only have the highest standards set. I'm not here to say that there are any companies out there that intentionally want to see horrible games released and make money off of your misery. However, here is the point, do we believe that demos help keep developers accountable of making quality games? I would believe so for these reasons, and I'm sure there are others out there I may not have in mind.

It gives the developers and publishers a forum for feedback. If there is an issue with the game or something that simply does not work for the consumers, there's a chance to fix the issue.

It gives the developers and publishers a chance to gauge success and failure and to make necessary adjustments to any division they see fit to allow for the game's success.

It reassures the consumer that while the game is still in development, this is what you should be excited for and that there is more to come that will make it worth spending your money on.

A demo can provide a connection between the developer and consumer on a level that could boost the performance and overall success of a game.

Without a demo, how does this impact the new games versus used games market?

A friend of mine made an interesting point and I believe this could work either way, regardless if there was a demo or not. Just the thought is interesting enough to consider. Without a demo, would consumers seek solace in the used games market? For instance, let's say a game does not meet the expectations of a consumer. In this generation, it is easy to go off and trade-in or sell your games to a company who has a business model of buying and selling used games, particularly GameStop. For those unsure about the game, would it be easier to buy a used copy of it at a cheaper price with the chance of returning it or to buy the game new, find out you don't like it and have to trade it in at a lesser value or keep the game knowing you wasted your money? It's easy to just see a cycle of consumers going into the store, picking up a used version of that game to try it out and return within the allotted time if it did not meet expectations and the developers would never see any of that money because it's being recycled in and out of that business model instead of going back to the source.

It is in fact interesting to see that demos could be considered as a contributing factor to whether or not games make sales goals. Which side do you line up with? Do they hurt sales? Or do they help boost them? Is there an idea I'm missing or do you not agree with my thoughts? Let me know in the comments below and let's start the conversation.

Erik Gerolaga is a blogger who loves his games, technology and delicious food. When he's not busy interacting with the gaming community, he enjoys playing the piano and getting lost in the music it makes. Follow @splitmindeddude on Twitter or follow his obsession with games, tech and food on his Instagram, which also happens to be @splitmindeddude. Go figure.